Calibrachoa plant names &#39;KLECA15388&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Calibrachoa  plant particularly distinguished by having a single yellow flower color and a semi-upright plant habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Calibrachoa sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLECA15388’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofCalibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘KLECA15388’. ‘KLECA15388’ originatedfrom a cross-pollination between the female parent ‘CA-2013-0238’ whichis an offspring of the varieties SUPERBELLS ‘Lemon Slice’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 24,353 also known as ‘USCAL5302M’) (female) and SUPERBELLS‘Cherry Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232 also known as ‘USCAL91001’)(male) and the male parent ‘CA-2013-0356’ which is an offspring of thevarieties SUPERBELLS ‘Lemon Slice’ (female) and the proprietary malecalibrachoa ‘CA-2010-2248’ (unpatented).

The original intention of the cross was to breed a variety withinflorescences exhibiting a star-shaped pattern as described in U.S.application Ser. No. 13/791,614. Therefore, in 2012 the variety ‘LemonSlice’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,353 also known as ‘USCAL5302M’), whichcomprises inflorescences with a star-shaped pattern, was crossed withthe variety SUPERBELLS ‘Cherry Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232 alsoknown as ‘USCAL91001’). In a further cross the variety ‘Lemon Slice’ wascrossed with Applicant's own calibrachoa breeding line ‘CA-2010-2248’.It should be noted that both male parents did not exhibit the starshaped pattern, following the method of U.S. application Ser. No.13/791,614. The seeds from both crosses were germinated and 100seedlings each were cultivated until flowering. Of the resulting 100seedlings, none of the progeny exhibited inflorescences with a starshaped pattern, as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/791,614.

From the first progeny the seedling ‘CA-2013-0238’ was selected andcrossed with the seedling ‘CA-2013-0356’, which was selected from thesecond progeny. From this cross an offspring of 100 seedlings was grownand observed for a star-shaped pattern. However, none of the progenyshowed this star pattern.

Furthermore, in 2012 the variety ‘Lemon Slice’ was crossed into 52further different Calibrachoa varieties and breeding lines, which alldid not exhibit the star-shaped pattern as described in U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/791,614. In 16 of these crosses Lemon Slice was used as themale parent and in further 36 crosses ‘Lemon Slice’ was used as thefemale parent. Additionally, in one cross ‘Lemon Slice’ wasself-pollinated. In 2013, 5,300 seedlings resulting from these crosses,were grown to flower and selected for the star-shaped pattern. 100individuals progeny were evaluated. However, none of the offspringshowed the star-shaped pattern. Also the subsequent backcrossing ofselected F₁ seedlings into ‘Lemon Slice’ as well as crosses among themdid not result in any progeny exhibiting the star-shaped pattern

In July and August of 2013, a single plant line was selected, having asingle yellow color and subsequently named ‘KLECA15388’. In July andAugust of 2013, ‘KLECA15388’ was first vegetatively propagated by tipcuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. ‘KLECA15388’ was found to reproduce trueto type in successive generations of asexual propagation via shoot tipcuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. A single yellow color flower color; and    -   2. A semi-upright plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows a flowers grown in a pot. The photograph is of asix-month-old plant grown in an outdoor environment in Stuttgart,Germany in September 2014. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLECA15388’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 4.5 month-old plants grown inStuttgart, Germany in September 2014. Color references are to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.),5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Calibrachoa sp.        -   Common name.—Calibrachoa.        -   Parentage.—Female parent: ‘CA-2013-0238’ which is an            offspring of the varieties SUPERBELLS ‘Lemon Slice’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 24,353) (female) and SUPERBELLS ‘Cherry Star’            (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,232 also known as ‘USCAL91001’)            (male) Male parent: ‘CA-2013-0356’ which is an offspring of            the varieties SUPERBELLS ‘Lemon Slice’ (female) and            ‘CA-2010-2248’ (male).-   Plant description:    -   -   Life cycle.—Annual.        -   Form.—Semi-upright.        -   Habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—12.0 cm.        -   Spread.—28.0 cm.-   Propagation: Vegetatively propagated    -   -   Type cuttings.—Tip cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—3 weeks.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem color.—RHS 144B.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem description.—Stem diameter: Include side shoots: 6.0 cm            (stem only: 0.2 cm).        -   Stem length.—12.0 cm. From soil line to first node: 2.1 cm            Total length: 14.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.4 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple, sessile.        -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to slightly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Surface pubescence.—Absent.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 143B Lower surface: RHS            143C.        -   Length.—2.7 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS 137D.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers: Single flowers    -   -   Flowering habit.—Flower attitude is semi-erect, single,            axillary.        -   Flower type.—Determinate inflorescence.        -   Flowering requirements.—A minimum of light sun is required.        -   Duration of flowers.—5 days.        -   Corolla.—Smooth texture.        -   Shape.—Funnel-shaped.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Length.—1.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Irregular to oblong.        -   Color.—RHS 7D.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS N144A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Anthocyanin color.—Absent.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower depth.—2.7 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—1.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—0.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—2.5 cm.        -   Pedicel color.—RHS 142B.        -   Calyx.—Funnel-shaped.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A Lower surface: RHS            147B.-   Petals:    -   -   Shape.—Heart-shaped.        -   Length.—1.6 cm.        -   Apex.—Obverse.        -   Margin.—Entire, weak indulation.        -   Base.—Open and fused into the tube.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Lobe length.—1.4 cm.        -   Lobe width.—1.1 cm.        -   Color.—Lobe color: Upper surface: RHS 7A Lower surface: RHS            10A Corolla tube color: Inner: RHS 12A Outer: RHS 11A.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—5.        -   Stamen color.—Anther color: RHS 14B Filament color: RHS 1B            Pollen color: RHS 14B.        -   Ovary.—Placenta arrangement: Ovate Pistil number: 1 Pistil            length: 0.1 cm Stigma color: RHS 142A Style length: 0.9 cm            Style color: RHS 142B.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLECA15388’ is distinguished from its female parent as described inTable 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female Parent Male ParentTrait ‘KLECA15388’ ‘CA-2013-0238’ ‘CA-2013-0356’ Flower color RHS 7A RHS1C and RHS 58B RHS 2A

‘KLECA15388’ is most similar to the Calibrachoa plant named SUPERBELLS‘Lemon Slice’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,353 also known as ‘USCAL5302M’).Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Commercial line VarietySUPERBELLS Trait ‘KLECA15388’ ‘Lemon Slice’ Flower color Single coloryellow Bicolor: yellow and white

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA15388’ as shown and described herein. 